Jehoram, King of Israel

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There are two kings named Jehoram in the Bible and both of their profiles are included below:

Jehoram, or Joram, king of Israel

Jehoram, or Joram, king of Judah

Jehoram, or Joram, King of Israel

Jehoram was the son of Ahab and Jezebel. He was the ninth King of the northern kingdom of Israel. (There was also another man named Jehoram who became king of Judah. In fact, the Jehoram of Judah married the sister, Athaliah, of Jehoram of Israel). Jehoram succeeded his brother, Ahaziah, and reigned for twelve years.

He allied himself with King Jehoshaphat of Judah to put down the Moabite rebellion. With a miracle as predicted by Elisha the prophet, the Moabites were defeated. Jehoram continued the long conflict between Israel and the nation of Aram.

After he was wounded at Ramoth Gilead, he went to the town of Jezreel to recover. While recovering, Jehu, who was anointed to be the next King of Israel, tracked down and killed Jehoram, and became the next King of Israel. The story of Jehoram is found in 2 Kings.

The name Jehoram means "Yah is high."

Jehoram, or Joram, King of Judah

Jehoram, son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, was 32 years old when he became King of Judah, and he reigned for 8 years (851-843 BC). He married Athaliah the daughter of King Ahab of Israel, and renewed pagan worship in Judah. Jehoram was an evil king. After becoming king, he killed all of his brothers, and many other leaders of Israel.

The nation of Edom, which had been subjugated by Israel, revolted against Jehoram, and after a battle, Edom maintained its independence and appointed its own king. Jehoram constructed idol shrines in Judah, and compelled his people to worship them. Then Elijah the prophet wrote him a letter describing Jehoram's sins and explaining the punishment that would befall him.

Then the Lord stirred up the Philistines and Arabs to attack Jehoram, and they carried away everything of value in the king's palace, including his sons and his wives. Only his youngest son, Jehoahaz, (Ahaziah), escaped. Then Jehoram was struck down with the incurable bowel disease. He was dead in two years, and was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal cemetery.

Then the people chose Ahaziah, his youngest son, as their new king. Jehoram's story is found in 2 Kings 8:16-23, and in 2 Chronicles, chapter 21. The name Jehoram means "Yah is high."

Next person in the Bible: Jehoram, or Joram, King of Judah

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